Differential equations - mixing problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a mixing scenario in a room where cigarette smoke containing carbon monoxide is introduced at a constant rate. The objective is to determine the time at which the concentration of carbon monoxide reaches a specified level. The subject area pertains to differential equations and concentration dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of the 4% carbon monoxide concentration in the incoming smoke and how it affects the rates of carbon monoxide entering and leaving the room. There is confusion regarding the correct formulation of the differential equation and the concentration calculations.

Discussion Status

Several participants have shared their attempts at formulating the problem and have expressed confusion about specific steps in their calculations. Some guidance has been offered regarding the setup of the differential equation and the integration process. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct approach, with multiple interpretations being considered.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the amount of direct assistance they can receive. There is also mention of potential mistakes in integration and the handling of logarithmic functions, which are under discussion.

braindead101
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A room containing 1000 cubic feet of air is originally free of carbon monoxide. Beginning at time t=0 cigarette smoke containing 4 percent carbon monoxide is blown into the room at 0.1 ft^3/min, and the well-circulated mixture leaves the room at hte same rate. Find the time when the concentration of carbon monoxide in the room reaches 0.012 percent.



rate = rate in - rate out ?



the 4% carbon monoxide part is really throwing me off. i don't exactly know what to do with this number. but other than that, i should be alright.

CO enters : 0.04 x 0.1 OR 0.1, I'm not sure whether to factor in the 4% CO
CO leaves : 0.04 x 0.1 S(t)/1000 OR 0.1 s(t)/1000

i need to figure that part out.. after that, everything i can handle. can someone please help me with the 4% carbon monoxide part
 
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okay so i tried working it out with the 0.04 factored in as shown above... and at the end i get a ln -#, so i guess that is wrong.
so now i am doing it without the 0.04. if i do it without the 0.04, then i do not understand the concentration part. it says to find the time when conc is 0.012 %, so set c(t)=0.00012 OR shoudl i be factoring in 4% CO somewhere still. i am really confused
 
Here's a hint: make M(t) be the quantity of carbon monoxide in the
room at any time and then the concentration is given by C(t)
= M(t)/1000.
 
i have used, s(t) = amount of CO
c(t)=s(t)/1000

so i have rate in as: 0.04 x 0.1
rate out: 0.1 s(t)/1000

i have modified my rate in and rate out from when i first posted the eq'n as i don't believe i have to add the 4% CO factor twice. tell me what you think now.
i have solved this ALL the way to plugging in C(t)

i plugged in c(t) as 1.2 x 10^-4
my eq'n is
c(t) = 4x 10^-10 (1-e^(1.0x10^-4)t)
so pluggin in c(t)
1.2 x 10^-4 = 4x 10^-10 (1-e^(1.0x10^-4)t)
solving for t
300000 = 1-e^(1.0x10^-4)t
299999 = -e^(1.0x10^-4)t

so.. once again. i am stuck.
 
here is all my work.

rate in: 0.04 x 0.01
rate out: 0.1 x s(t)/1000

s(0) = 0

s'(t) = 0.004 - 1.0x10^-4 s(t)
s'(t) + 1.0x10^-4 s(t) = 0.004

solving diff eq'n:
a(t) = 1.0x10^-4, b(t)=0.004

using formula: u(t) = exp(integ(a(t)dt))
u(t) = exp(integ(1.0x10^-4 dt))
u(t)=exp(1.0x10^-4 t)

using formula: d/dt (u(t) s(t) ) = u(t)b(t)
d/dt ( (e^(1.0x10^-4 t )) s(t) ) = (e^(1.0x10^-4 t)) x 0.004
(e^(1.0x10^-4 t )) s(t) = integ (0.004(e^(1.0x10^-4 t))dt)
(e^(1.0x10^-4 t )) s(t) = 0.004(1.0x10^-4)(e^(1.0x10^-4 t) + C
s(t) = [(4x10^-7) (e^(1.0x10^-4 t)) + C]/(e^(1.0x10^-4 t))]
s(t) = 4x10^-7 + Ce^(1.0x10^-4 t)
sub s(0)=0
0 = 4x10^-7 + C
C= -4x10^-7

so,
s(t)=(4x10^-7)(1-e^(1x10^-4 t))

c(t) = s(t)/1000
c(t) = (4x10^-10)(1-e^(1x10^-4 t))

find t when c(t) = 1.2 x 10^-4
1.2x10^-4 = (4x10^-10)(1-e^(1x10^-4 t))
300000 = 1-e^(1x10^-4 t)
299999 = -e^(1x10^-4 t)

stuck. any suggestions or any wrong steps?
 
Use natural logarithm.
 
i end up ln-ing a negative..
 
can anyone find the mistake?
i have some help from the instructor as he said the percentage is percentage of the volume, so i guess that is the part that is wrong? I'm not sure what he means by that.
 
braindead101 said:
can anyone find the mistake?
i have some help from the instructor as he said the percentage is percentage of the volume, so i guess that is the part that is wrong? I'm not sure what he means by that.

Re-check your steps. I already told you the idea

\frac{dm(t)}{dt} = 0.1 * 0.04 - 0.1 \frac{m(t)}{1000}

Maybe you will have less mistakes in your calculations if you solved it like this.

c(t) = \frac{m(t)}{1000}

1000\frac{dc(t)}{dt} = 0.1 * 0.04 - 0.1 \frac{1000c(t)}{1000}
 
  • #10
braindead101 said:
here is all my work.



(e^(1.0x10^-4 t )) s(t) = 0.004(1.0x10^-4)(e^(1.0x10^-4 t) + C
s(t) = [(4x10^-7) (e^(1.0x10^-4 t)) + C]/(e^(1.0x10^-4 t))]
s(t) = 4x10^-7 + Ce^(-1.0x10^-4 t)

The mistake lies in these steps. You forgot the negative.
 
Last edited:
  • #11
i'm working it out your way now, but the negative i 4got to type in, but i had it on paper and it doesn't really make a difference as when i am plugging in s(0)=0, c is still the same regardless of that.
 
  • #12
braindead101 said:
i'm working it out your way now, but the negative i 4got to type in, but i had it on paper and it doesn't really make a difference as when i am plugging in s(0)=0, c is still the same regardless of that.

It DOES make a difference for the logarithm.
 
  • #13
okay
so here is my work:
starting from pluggin in the concentration:
s(t) = (4x10^-7) - (4x10^-7)e^(-1.0x10^-4 t)
C(t) = s(t)/1000
c(t) = (4x10^-7)(1-e^(-1.0x10^-4 t)) / 1000
pluggin in c(t) = 1.2x10^-4
1.2x10^-4 = 4x10^-10(1-e^(-1.0x10^-4 t))
300000 = 1-e^(-1.0x10^-4 t)
299999 = -e^(-1.0x10^-4 t)
ln 299999 = ln -e^(-1.0x10^-4 t)
i am stuck agian..
at the same place
 
  • #14
Well i decided to do the problem to see why you weren't getting it right, anyway, i see another mistake, your integration is wrong. Btw, i get 30.05 as the answer, is t in minutes?, looks awfully fast if it was in seconds.

\int e^{kx} dx = \frac{1}{k} e^{kx} + C
 
Last edited:
  • #15
oh my god , thank you so much.
I have checked over my work so many timse and still did not catch that!
reworking my solution as we speak and hopefully i get the same answer as you.
 
  • #16
i got the same answer as you, thanks very much.
 

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